by Ben Murphy
Sports Writer
For as storied of a football program as the one Marion has, it might be a bit surprising that they’ve never had a perfect 9-0 regular season. The third ranked Eagles, who did go 7-0 back in 1966, finished off their first ever undefeated nine game schedule, with a 62-6 win over visiting Farwell.
“It was a great accomplishment for these guys and a goal of this team and they worked really hard for it,” Marion head coach Chad Grundy said. “I thought that we responded well when we gave up a first quarter touchdown and were able to adjust what they were having success with.”
For Farwell, who finishes the season 7-2 overall, it just couldn’t quite solve the potent Marion offense and rugged defense.
“Marion is a very good football team,” Farwell head coach Travis Waddell said. “Our injuries definitely effected the game and I would like to think that if we were healthy, the game would have been much more competitive.”
Marion opened up the scoring in the non-league 8-man game with a 70-yard touchdown pass to Gavin Prielipp, for a quick 8-0 lead. Farwell was able to answer with a five-yard touchdown run by Michael Nunn to pull within 8-6, but Salisbury tossed a 28-yard touchdown pass to Aadin Yowell and ran for a seven yard touchdown to make it 24-6 after one.
Marion saw G. Prielipp get a 47-yard scoring run and a Salisbury to Braden Prielipp touchdown pass of 29 yards in the second quarter, to set things to 38-6 at the half.
In the third, Marion had a 47-yard touchdown run by B. Prielipp, a 34-yard touchdown pass form Salisbury to G. Prielipp and Salisbury found G. Prielipp again for the final touchdown, throwing a 44-yarder.
“We saw on film that we had an advantage in the passing game and we were able to exploit that,” Grundy said.
Exploit it they did, as Salisbury completed seven-of-11 passes for 254 yards and five touchdowns, and he also ran six times for 66 yards and another score.
“Mason is a veteran football player, he has been here for the last three years and knows that it takes to be successful,” Grundy said. “He is very business-like in his approach to each week.”
G. Prielipp finished with five receptions for 197 yards and three touchdowns and he ran for another 79 yards and a touchdown on four carries. B. Prielipp ran five times for 67 yards and a touchdown and he had one reception for a 29-yard touchdown. Yowell’s lone grab was for the 28-yard touchdown.
On defense, Salisbury had 7.5 tackles, Weston Cox had 6.5, Cole Meyer took down six, Aaron Whitney and Wyatt Schmidt each tracked down 3.5 tackles and Aaron Jenema managed to get three tackles.
For Farwell, Nunn finished with 50 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries and Dominic Krabill ran for 50 yards.
Farwell, who’s enrollment exceeds the MHSAA cutoff to be playoff eligible, finishes the season 7-2 overall, and though they ended the season with two losses, it was still a big step in the right direction for the program.
“(The late season losses) do not take away form the season being historic for Farwell,” Waddell said. “Most points scored in a season. Most offensive yards in a season. Most rushing yards in a season. Most points scored in a single game. Nunn also broke the single season rushing touchdown record. I am proud of what our players have accomplished. This team has worked very hard to change the culture of Farwell Football. I am proud to have been able to coach them this season.”
Marion turns attention to Posen for playoff opener
Now that the historic regular season is behind them, Marion is hoping to add some more history in the post-season. The Eagles open up the Division 2 playoffs tonight (Friday), when it welcomes to town 12th ranked Posen (7-2 overall).
“We tell our guys one game at a time,” head coach Chad Grundy said. “Every team in our region has won at least seven games, so they are all quality opponents here on out.”
The Vikings put up an average of 43 points per game this season. They lost to an undefeated Rogers City team 12-6 back in week three and their other setback came last week, 42-24 to a one loss AuGres squad. Posen runs a spread-style offense and is led by Jack Romel, who can throw the ball and run it with equal effectiveness. Cole Krajniak and Ethan Romel have been the team’s leading rushers.
Posen has some good athletes they like to spread you out and run so it will be a test for our guys to hold them defensively,” Grundy said. “I think that we match up with them pretty well but we need to read our keys and do our assignments to be successful.”
The playoffs of course are nothing new for Marion. This is their sixth straight trip to the post-season, and the last two have seen the Eagles go to the semi-finals. With many believing this team to be better than the two prior years, the excitement with this squad could be at an all-time high.
“We have most of our team back from last year and a few played in the semi finals two years ago,” Grundy said. “So, they know what it takes and our mentality has become that we expect to be here and have to work hard to meet expectations.”